Our Common Journey: A Transition toward Sustainability Summarized by: Asa Young Me 449 Husar

Our Common Journey: The 4 Concerns What is to be sustained? What is to be developed? What types of links should exist between 1 & 2? What is the extent of the future envisioned? Sustainable Development: “ the ability of humanity to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Trends & Transitions: A Coupled Plan Human DevelopmentEarth’s Environment Trends & Transitions 1. Demographic 2. Health 3. Economic 4. Civil Society Trends & Transitions 5. Environmental GOALS: Meeting Human Needs Preserving Life Support Systems Reducing Hunger & Poverty

Strategies for Exploring the Future Strategies need scientific credibility, political legitimacy, practical utility, and effectiveness.

Environmental Threats & Opportunities: Major Concerns What are the greatest threats that humanity will encounter as it attempts to navigate the transition to sustainability? What are the most promising opportunities for avoiding or circumventing these threats on the path to sustainability? Sources: UNCED (1992); World Bank (1992); WRI (1996); UNEP (1982) ; Easterbrook (1995); Centre for Science and Environment (1995); Council on Environmental Quality and Department of State (1982); Brown (1956). Table 4.1 Assessments of the Importance of Environmental Hazards

Reporting on the Transition: Indication of the Worst The P-S-R Framework for designing IndicatorsCritical Regions Indicators are repeated observations of natural and social phenomena that represent systematic feedback. Fundamental Idea of Sustainable Development: “humans can impair the life support systems of the natural world, calling forth responses intended to protect environmental quality.” Indicators are essential to inform society over the coming decades how, and to what extent, progress is being made in navigating a transition toward sustainability. Source: Redrawn from Kasperson et al. (1995). Courtesy of United Nations University Press.

Integrating Knowledge & Action: A Research Method Figure 6.1 Four interlinked, research-based components of sustainability science. Develop a research framework for the science of sustainable development that integrates global and local perspectives to shape a place-based understanding of the interactions between environment and society. Research Priorities Intellectual Foundations Biological Geophysical Social Technological Integrative Science Combine above fields Combine regions Place Based Science Critical Issues Diversity vs. Manageability